Mumbai: Andheri’s Lokhandwala residents fear for safety as Metro 6 stretch goes dark

Spots below the under-construction Metro Pink Line 6 in Swami Samarth Nagar, Andheri West, is lit only by car and two-wheeler lights. Pics/Satej Shinde

Residents of Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri West, especially women, are finding it increasingly difficult to walk along the stretch beneath the under-construction Metro Line 6 after sunset due to missing street lights. With the area remaining poorly lit, residents have raised concerns over safety and inconvenience.

[popcorn number="15 km" desc="Approximate length of Metro Line 6" class="Default"]

Locals have complained about the same to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), demanding that the issue be resolved at the earliest. Residents also alleged that construction material has been dumped on the footpath below the Metro line, leaving no space for pedestrians to walk.

Dhaval Shah and Karan Jotwani of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) told mid-day that they had already raised the issue with the MMRDA and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

What mid-day witnessed

On Tuesday night, these reporters travelled along the stretch below the under-construction Swami Samarth Nagar Metro station only to find that there were no lights to help pedestrians walk safely.

Various spots beneath the under-construction Metro Line 6 in Swami Samarth Nagar, Andheri West, are shrouded in darkness. PICS/Satej Shinde

Construction material was also lying beneath the Metro station and on the footpath, leaving pedestrians with little choice but to walk on the road. The other side of the stretch was also in complete darkness. With the footpath blocked, pedestrians were forced to walk on a dark road, putting themselves at risk.

When the reporters crossed the Infiniti Mall signal and walked further along the stretch below the under-construction Metro Line 6, there was one section with no lighting at all. Further ahead, temporary floodlights had been installed near one stretch.

Woman reporter's first-person account

As I traversed the stretch as part of the test drive, I realised how unsafe something as basic as walking home or accessing daily necessities can feel. With the authorities responsible for constructing the Metro Line 6 removing all street lights, exploiting the footpaths to dump construction materials and establish temporary accommodation for workers between Swami Samarth Nagar Metro station and Infiniti Mall, pedestrians are forced to negotiate a combination of missing footpaths and construction sites in poor light.

(From left) Dhaval Shah and Karan Jotwani of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association

While larger shops and showrooms on the stretch are open, their lighting provides some illumination. But once these establishments shut for the day, the stretch becomes dark, deserted and intimidating. This is a concern for those who need to access essential services, such as medical shops. For women, especially, the absence of basic safety infrastructure such as CCTVs makes the situation even more worrying.

With no adequate pedestrian pathway, street lighting or visible security arrangements, walking through the stretch after business hours can be particularly frightening, with construction material lying haphazardly on one side and vehicles zooming past from the other, and darkness shrouding everything.

Official Speak

An MMRDA official told mid-day, "The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority are coordinating with Adani Electricity to restore all street light poles and also making temporary arrangements for lighting to provide immediate relief."

Resident Speak

Kashmera Shah, actor
‘We have stopped walking on the stretch below the under-construction Metro station near Swami Samarth Nagar and the Metro corridor opposite Infinity Mall after sunset because there are no street lights. After 11 pm, it becomes completely dark and very difficult to walk, which is worrying from a safety point of view. Temporary floodlights should be installed at the earliest, before something unfortunate happens'

Saumya Tandon, actor
‘We appreciate that the government is building the Metro to encourage people to use public transport. But it is disappointing that pedestrian safety seems to have been ignored. The contractor carrying out the Metro Line 6 work from Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli has dumped construction material below the under-construction station at the former spot, leaving very little space for pedestrians to walk. At night, the situation becomes worse as there are no street lights below the station. This is a serious concern, especially for women'